The new anti-drugs policy was due to be implemented in January but the British Horseracing Association (BHA) announced a "short delay" because of a need for clarification on certain elements relating to the revised policy.

Key elements of the policy include:

Guarantees that a racehorse must never be administered with an anabolic steroid at any time from birth to retirement

Greater powers for the BHA in terms of access for testing registered horses

A requirement for horses to be registered from a younger age

BHA to be aware of horses' whereabouts at all times

A more stringent 14-month stand-down period for horses found to have been administered with anabolic steroids

Greater controls on horses running in Great Britain from international jurisdictions

Godolphin called it "a dark day for racing" as 11 horses were tested positive for banned steroids